Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Go at once to Zarephath in the region of Sidon and stay there. I have directed a widow there to supply you with food.” So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?” As she was going to get it, he called, “And bring me, please, a piece of bread.” “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.” Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’” 1 Kings 17:7-14 NIV
In our previous post, When The Brook Dries Up, we focused on Elijah as he watched his water source disappear. At the same time, in a small town just outside of Israel, there was a widow and a little boy running out of food. Coincidental timing? Not a chance! God heard the cries of this frightened mother as she watched her son get closer and closer to death, and He stepped in to help! In hindsight, we see God only allowed the brook to dry up because He had other plans for Elijah, plans that no longer required the brook. Hmmm, could it be God only allows us to suffer loss when He has a greater plan?
How desperate was this woman’s need? She was down to her last handful of flour and just enough oil to make one final meal for her and her son. The drought had been around a while; surely she hadn’t till she was down to her last drop of oil before she prayed. God told Elijah that He had directed this widow to supply Elijah with food. That alone convinces me that she had been praying. Sometimes we petition God for months or even years hoping He’ll step in and help us. We wonder if He’s listening. We wonder if He cares. That’s when our faith is tested.
After hearing that she only had enough for one more meal, Elijah did something unthinkable. He asked her to prepare a meal for him! Really? Could he really ask her to share her food with him at a time like this? But Elijah believed God. And what’s even better, he gave her an opportunity to believe God too. He told her God had promised she would not run out of flour or oil during the drought. To put this in perspective, altogether the drought lasted 3 1/2 years! Notice he didn’t just ask her to make a meal and allow him to share it with her and her son, he asked her to use what she had left to make a meal for him first, then trust God to provide enough to make a second meal for her and her son. This was a defining moment for her. Did she have enough faith to hand a stranger her last meal while her own son was starving?
Jesus taught, as recorded in Matthew 6:33, that if we put God first, He will give us everything we need. That sounds great, in theory, but to put it into practice requires a lot faith, the kind of faith this widow needed. I’m challenged by Jesus’ teaching! Am I really putting God first in my life, using all my resources in my service to Him? Am I wasting precious time worrying, when I know He wants me to be anxious about nothing?
She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah. 1 Kings 17:15-16 NIV
Her faith stood strong! She put God first and did what He asked of her. May you and I do the same.